Tidbits, 07/2006

UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS

Joan Lund, July 2006

General Assembly, 2006 is history as you read this column but I will wait until the August column to write of the highlights. The summer months are often a time when congregation life slows a bit, hopefully a time to think about the upcoming church year, perhaps strategies for improving services for members and how to achieve growth in numbers and vitality. Recently, I received a wonderful email from a friend I have not been in communication with for many years. This friend found my name when researching a web site called beliefnet.com. From there the friend must have gone to the UUA website and found me as the Florida Trustee. To quote the email, ??I want to tell you that they have a series of questions regarding religion and philosophy which when summed up puts you in the church where you belong. Guess what? I am a Unitarian Universalist at heart. My sister and my daughter took the test and came out the same as I did. I suspect that there are many people who have the same orientation that Unitarians have but don?t have the courage of their convictions?.

Haven?t all of us voiced the last sentence in that quote? What can/should we do to attract and hold these valuable folks? I came across something called, ?Simple Ways You Can Help Your Congregation Grow?, developed by Art Brewer, which states that research shows the single, most effective way for a congregation to grow is to practice an OUTWARD ORIENTATION. What follows is an abbreviated list of some personal ways you, as an individual, can practice an outward orientation:

Bring someone to a Sunday service?wear your name tag at every Sunday service?tell a visitor that you?re glad they came or came back if this is a return visit?put a UU decal on your car or home window?wear UU jewelry?be a Sunday morning greeter?tell people about your congregation?s web site?participate in a community event that reflects UU principles?link your favorite social justice cause to the congregation?host a party and invite members and non-members of your congregation?wear a UU t-shirt?if you are a member of a small group, invite a non-member to one of your meetings?give a copy of a sermon or presentation you liked to a non-member?talk to non-members about your congregation?display our ?Seven Principles? at home or work?carry ?Seven Principles? cards to give to people when they ask?give a copy of World magazine and/or your congregation newsletter to someone you think would like to learn more about us?include UU content on your personal and/or business web site?attend a District meeting?attend General Assembly?tell someone about a provocative thought you heard at church, then ask for their opinion?put a chalice in some place of honor in your home.

Cannot fit in all of the ideas but I am certain you can create your own. UU evangelism is a good thing when done in keeping with our values. Thanks to all of you who write to comment about Trustee Tidbits and my periodic reports. You help to motivate me to do, and be the best I am able. I can be reached at jlund@uua.org for further thoughts.

Tidbits, 06/2006

UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS
Joan Lund, June 2006

This month I am writing about an important initiative that is forthcoming from our Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations: a proposed health plan. In 1998 the major medical plan serving about 200 enrollees was cancelled by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Since that time our UUA has contacted all the major national health insurance carriers in the U.S. in search of an insured health plan for the eligible staffs of our over 1,000 congregations. In addition an insurance partnership with other religious denominations was sought without success.

The most rapidly growing type of health plan in the U.S. today is one that is self-funded. A prominent actuarial firm identified the specifics of a self-insured plan that would be workable for the UUA. It has been concluded that a financially viable self-funded plan can be operative and financially viable effective January 1, 2007, if 500 eligible ministers and other employees (not dependents) enroll by October 15, 2006. The success of the program assumes a standard cross section of all eligible enrollees, reflecting typical health situations and utilization patterns of health care services.

Eligibility will be open to persons who work at least 1,000 hours per calendar year for UU congregations and related organizations such as camp and conference centers, urban ministries, self-employed community ministers, and to recent retirees age 65+ who have Medicare as their primary health insurance. Enrollees will be able to select coverage for an individual adult, two adults, one adult with children, or two adults with children (a family), with no discrimination based on marital status or affectional preference. Enrollment will not be open to persons who are members of congregations unless they also serve 1,000 hours of paid employment per year. One of the most attractive features of the plan will be its portability, the opportunity for ministers and others to continue their current coverage when relocating to serve another UU congregation in a different location.

Two types of plans will be offered. 1) A basic preferred provider plan (PP)) using the Blue Cross Blue Shield nationwide network as administered by Highmark BCBS of Pittsburgh, PA. 2) A high deductible PPO Plan featuring similar benefits as the basic plan, although with higher front-end deductibles and lower annual premiums. The provisions of the plan will permit enrollees to purchase and contribute to a tax sheltered Health Savings Account (HAS) if they wish to do so. Individuals can obtain HSAs through Blue Cross Blue Shield.

There is much information available to all interested UUs by going on the UUA website and/or you may contact me at lundjb@uua.org or 813-931-9727. I urge every congregation who has employee(s) who qualify to research this offering. It is imperative that we make this work. The Board of Trustees will vote final approval of the plan at out October, 2006 meeting if the enrollment target has been reached. Finally, I look forward to being with many of you in St. Louis at General Assembly later this month.